Ski catching belt

ABSTRACT

A ski catching belt which has a closure member connected to one end of the belt and an eye member connected to the other end of the belt for cooperation with the closure member, said closure member comprising a hook element and a closing element which has one end portion fixedly connected to said hook element and has a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook element, said free end portion of said hook element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in the opposite direction while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, said eye means being movable from the area defined by said second angle into the area defined by said first angle and vice versa.

Elite Benk Sttes atent [54] SKI CATCHING BELT [72] Inventor: Claus Benk, Isny/Allgau, Germany [73] Assignee: Edelmann & Ridder,

Germany [22] Filed: March 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No 19,806

Isny/Allgau,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 4, 1969 Germany ..P 19 12 910.3

[52] U.S. Cl ..24/73 R, 24/198, 24/236, 24/237 [51] Int. Cl. ...A44b 21/00, A44b 11/00, A44b 13/02 [58] Field of Search ..24/73, 265 BH, 265 SH, 3 K, 24/198, 200, 236, 237, 265 BB, 265 RL, 73

[4 1 Sept. 5, 1972 2,099,199 1l/l937 Devendor et al. ..24/198 2,967,341 l/l96l Vosburg ..24/265 RL X 3,218,686 1 l/l965 Rubenstein ..24/198 Primary ExaminerDonald A. Griffin Attorney-Walter Becker, Albert H. Reuther and Revere B. Gurley 57 ABSTRACT A ski catching belt which has a closure member connected to one end of the belt and an eye member connected to the other end of the belt for cooperation with the closure member, said closure member comprising a hook element and a closing element which has one end portion fixedly connected to said hook element and has a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook element, said free end portion of said hook element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in the opposite direction while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, said eye means being movable from the area defined by said second angle into the area defined by said first angle and vice versa.

36 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTE D E 5 I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 lnren/on (7006 28724 SKI CATCHING BELT The present invention relates to a ski catching belt which has one end thereof provided with a spring safety hook-shaped closure member adapted to receive a counter member which closure member when in condition of use is subjected to pull. The said closure member has two elements, one of which is hookshaped, whereas the other member forms a closing element which is spring loaded for closing position, but resilient enough to permit the introduction of the hook member.

I-Ieretofore known ski catching belts of the above mentioned type have the drawback that they are difficult to mount and in particular difficult to remove from a boot, inasmuch as to this end the blocking member has first manually to be depressed against the thrust of the spring until the counter member can be moved out through the entrance opening.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a ski catching belt of the above mentioned general type with which a separate actuation of the latching member, especially when loosening or detaching the ski catching belt, will not be necessary in every instance.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a ski catching belt according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the length adjuster of the ski belt according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified spring safety hook or snap hook.

FIG. 4 shows the hook of FIG. 3 as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively illustrate in side view and in end view a modified spring safety hook or snap hook.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are a side and end view of still another modified spring safety hook or snap hook according to the invention.

The ski catching belt according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that those surfaces of the two members of a closure element which face each other, for purposes of forming a mouth, form a receiving chamber for the counter member, which receiving chamber in the manner of a funnel, narrows in the pulling direction of use of the hook member toward the entrance opening. In this way, the counter piece need only to be moved relative to the hook member in a direction counter to the pulling direction of said counter member in use position whereby it moves by itself into the discharge mouth, moves the blocking member to the opening position and thus slips out of the hook member. In other words, it is merely necessary to move the counter member and the hook member relative to each other in a certain direction. This can be carried out in a very simple manner when a handle or the like, preferably in the form of a holding strip, or the like, is connected by means of a rivet to that end of the closure member, especially the hook and/or the blocking member which is located opposite to the discharging mouth. In this way, the closure member and the counter member can easily be moved relative to each other in the desired direction.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to form the belt in conformity with the invention by a braided hose band which at the connecting portions is preferably provided with rivets, inasmuch as with such band, in view of the diagonal location of the braided threads within the area of the rivets or other connecting elements the tearing danger is reduced to a minimum and thus considerably less than is the case with other customary belts. Moreover, the present invention has the advantage that the threads which diagonally cross each other, have, in response to a pulling load, the tendency to change their location in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the belt while simultaneously stretching. In this way, friction occurs at the crossing areas of the thread by which fact a portion of the effective energy is converted into frictional heat and thus reduces the catching shock.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be noticed from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the ski catching belt illustrated therein comprises a belt section 1 which is formed by diagonally arranged braided threads. To one end 2 of this belt 1 there is connected a closure member 3, whereas the other end of the belt has arranged therein a counter member 5 for cooperation with the closure member 3. Approximately at the center of the total length of the belt, the latter is folded so as to form a loop so that the two belt sections starting from the central portion 6 are located directly adjacent to each other up to a buckle 7. The buckle 7 is formed by a fiat substantially rectangular member of elastic material, for instance, rubber, which has two slots parallel to its two shorter edges. The length of said slots substantially corresponds to the width of the belt while the width of said slots corresponds substantially to twice the thickness of the belt or to the total thickness of the two layers arranged one above the other of the belt. The buckle protrudes only slightly beyond the belt. The two belt parts extending from the above mentioned central portion or loop 6 are passed while lying against each other from one side of the buckle 7 through one slot 8 to the other side of the buckle 7 and then along the web 9 between said slots of the buckle 7 and finally, again through the other slot 8. The web 9 has a width which is considerably wider than the width of the slots 8 so that too strong a curvature of the belt 1 within the area of the buckle 7 will be prevented. As shown in FIG. 2, the buckle 7 is adapted to be elastically curved under the influence of the belt 1 passed therethrough so that a particularly safe hold on belt 1 will be assured. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the buckle 7, the upper end or bottom side of buckle 7 may in the longitudinal direction thereof be provided with elevations 32, for instance, ribs or the like. These ribs are so designed and arranged that when the buckle is curved by the belt as mentioned above, these elevations will have the tendency to return the buckle to its straight or plane condition. If the elevations are provided on the bottom side, they will be compressed when the buckle is curved. When the elevations or ribs are provided on the bottom side, they will expand during the curvature and will either by pressure or by pulling forces tend to return the buckle to its plane condition while simultaneously acting as cushioning means. With the counter member 5 arranged in the closure member 3, the two belt portions which contain the belt ends 2, 4 and come up from the buckle 7, form a loop adapted to be placed around the shank of a boot, whereas the belt portion which extends from the buckle 7 in the direction toward the loop 6 is provided for connection on a ski binding.

The closure member 3 comprises a hook member 13 which is equipped with a hook-shaped approximately semicircular backwardly curved end section It) the free end 11 of which is bent outwardly at an acute angle or so as to form a partial circle. In the entrance portion or opening 12 of the hookshaped member 13 there is provided a locking member 13' which has cross sections which are smaller than the hook member 13 but form a single integral piece with the hook member 13.

The central plane of the locking member 13' which expediently has the same width as the hook member 13 is located in the central plane of said hook member 13. At that end of the hook member 13 which faces away from the hook curvature 10, said hook member 13 and the locking member 13' merge with each other through a bent eye 14. From this eye 14, the locking member 13 protrudes rectilinearly in the direction toward the hook curvature 10 of the hook member 13 while the locking member 13' extends at an obtuse angle with regard to the section 15 of the hook member 13,. said section 15 being located between the curvature l and the end section 11 which is angled off toward the outside. In the curved merging area 16 between the two sections 1 1, 15, the locking member 13' is angled off at an 0btuse angle toward the inside while the angled-off end 17 merges with the locking member 13 through a circular merging section 18. The angled-off ends 11, 17 of the hook member 13 and of the locking member 13 are so designed that the rounded sections 16, 18 will have their convex sides which face each other in engagement with each other in such a way that the central planes of the two angled-off ends 11, 17 approximately coincide and a clamping of the counter member will occur only over a very small path of movement while a short design of the ends 11, 17 is possible. The locking member 13 engages the hook member 13 under a preload. In view of the described design, an inner discharge mouth 19 and an outer introducing mouth 20 are formed, each of said mouths forming an acute angle to obtain small dimensions. The greatest width of the introducing mouth 20 is greater than the greatest width of the discharge or releasing mouth 19 so that an undesired automatic loosening of the counter member 5 will definitely be prevented. For purposes of introducing the counter member which may be formed, for instance, by a ring 5, the counter member 5 is inserted into the introducing mouth 20 whereupon by applying a pulling force in the direction toward the area of engagement of the locking member 13' on the hook member 13, the locking member 13' is resiliently pressed inwardly so that the ring 5 in conformity with FIG. 1 moves into the closure member 3 and the locking member 13 again engages the hook member 13. The counter member may also be formed by the belt itself. The free end edge 21 of the locking member 13' is arranged in spaced relationship to the curved inner surface 22 of the hook member 13, said spacing being greater than the cross section of the counter member formed by the ring 5 so that the counter member is adapted after being introduced into the closure member 3 to move freely in the latter.

For purposes of detaching the counter member 5, the latter is introduced into the discharge or releasing mouth 19 whereupon by applying a correspondingly directed pulling force, the hook member 13 is likewise resiliently pressed inwardly and the counter member 5 slips out of the closure member 3. The greatest width of the releasing mouth 19 may with a corresponding cross section of the counter member 5 be smaller than the greatest transverse cross section, inasmuch as, for instance, with a circular cross section of the counter member 5 according to FIG. 1, when introducing counter member 5 into the releasing mouth 19, a wedging effect will occur already when the corresponding section of the counter member 5 is not yet completely within the releasing mouth 19.

The eye 14 of the closure member 3 serves for connecting the corresponding end of belt 1. This end is passed through the eye 14 and folded to form a loop 2 while the two loop portions are connected to each other by means of a rivet 23. The cross section 24 of the belt 1 which, in conformity with the present invention, forms a braided hose belt is illustrated within the region of the eye 14. Also the other end of belt 1 forms a loop 4 in which the counter member formed by ring 5 is mounted while the two loop portions are likewise connected to each other by a rivet 25.

With the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hook member 13a of the closure member 3a is formed by a bent flat steel member to which is connected the locking member formed by a separate part. The locking member l3'a is at 18a angled off at a sharp angle while the angled-off end 17a of the locking member 13a formed thereby engages a slot 26 of the hook member 13a. The locking member 13'a preferably has a smaller width than the hook member 13a while the slot 26 is located symmetrically with regard to the longitudinal central plane of the hook member 13a and is only slightly wider than the locking member 13'a. When the locking member l3'a is in its closing position, its end edge 21a is, for purposes of increasing the stability, completely within the slot 26. As a result thereof, the releasing mouth 19a, or the region between the angled-off end 17a of the locking member 13'a and the oppositely located inner surface 220 of the hook member 13a form a receiving chamber 27 for the counter member which when seen from the side according to FIG. 3 is in the closing position of the locking member 13'a completely closed at the circumference. Expediently, the width or the cross section of the receiving opening 27 is somewhat greater than the corresponding cross section of the counter member (not illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4) so that this counter member can move freely within the receiving opening 27 to a corresponding extent. In view of the design according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the counter member introduced through the introducing mouth 200, however, cannot in contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1, be moved completely freely within the closure member 3a because in the receiving opening 27 it is substantially held in its position. For purposes of releasing the counter member from the closure member 3a, a particular care for introducing the counter member into the releasing mouth 19a is not required. The hook member 13a is, starting from the outwardly angled-off end section 11a, widened over its entire length while the end 2a of the belt 1a is connected to the wide end.

At this end, also the locking member 13a is provided with a widened plate 14a which is arranged between the inwardly folded belt end 2a and the hook member 13a and is connected by means of the same rivet 23a as the belt end 2a.

At the outside of the curved section a of the hook member 13a there is provided an extension 28 which protrudes in the longitudinal direction of said member 13a. This extension 28 bridges the slot 26 so that an increased strength member 13a will be obtained. Connected by a rivet 30 to said plate-shaped extension 28 is a holding member 29 of leather or another flexible material. On this holding member 29, the closure member 3a may be held, especially in an advantageous manner when the counter member is to be released. During the releasing operation, a tilting moment occurs about the rear end of the closure member 3a and is caused by the pull exerted upon the holding member 29. The closure member 3a is in this connection placed upwardly so that the belt section surrounding the shank of the boot will be subjected to a pulling stress whereby the counter member 5 moves into the releasing mouth 19a and in response to a further pulling and tilting can detach itself from its closure position by compressing the locking member 13a.

Whereas the penetration of the locking member 13'a by the hook member 13a, in conformity with FIGS. 3 and 4, occurs due to the fact that the locking member extends into a slot of the hook member, this penetration is, according to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, obtained by the fact that the hook member 13b extends through a slot 26b of the locking member l3'b. However, also a combination of the two designs is possible. The locking member 13'b which forms one piece with the hook member 13b is widening at a distance from the sleeve portion 14b while the width of this widened end section is greater than the width of the hook member 13b. In the widened section 31 of the locking member l3b, there is provided a slot 26b which is slightly wider than the width of the hook member 13b which latter by means of its curved section 10b extends through the slot 26b. In this way, the releasing mouth 19b completely forms a receiving chamber for the counter member so that the counter member introduced through the introducing mouth b cannot be freely moved in the closure member 3b but will be held in the receiving opening 19b. The angled-off end 17b of the locking member l3'b is extended beyond the outside of the hook member 13b while at the end of this angled-off end section 17b there is fastened by means of a rivet 30b a holding member 29b (FIG. 5, but not shown in FIG. 6). The design of the spring safety hook according to the present invention may also be advantageous on parts other than a ski catching belt.

With the design of FIGS. 7 and 8, the hook member 130 and the locking member 13'c of the closure member 3c likewise form a receiving chamber 270 for the counter member 50 the connection of which with the belt is not shown in order not to clog up the drawing but can be seen in FIG. 1. The receiving chamber 270 is, similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 3-6, formed by those surfaces 33, 340 of the two members 130, 13c which face each other while the receiving chamber 270 for purposes of forming the releasing mouth 19c is narrowed at an acute angle in a funnel-shaped manner in the pulling direction 35 in which during the use of said belt the end 20 of the belt acts upon the closure 3c. That section 15:: of the rearwardly curved hook part 10c which is located between the free end llcand the curvature extends substantially parallel to the oppositely located section 36 of the hook member 130 while the free end 11c is angled off outwardly at an acute angle and together with the oppositely located section 38 of the leaf spring-locking member 13'c forms the introducing mouth 200 for introducing the counter member 50 through the introducing opening of the hook member 13c. The rearwardly curved hook part 10c is stamped out from the oppositely located section 36 of the hook member in such a way that as a result thereof the upper section of slot 260 is formed in which the free end 210 of the angled-off rectilinear end section of the locking member 13'c is located. The rearwardly curved hook part 100 and the oppositely located section 36 of the hook member 13c are in that region in which they merge with each other curved in such a way that a substantially partially circular inner surface 22c is formed which will considerably increase the strength of the hook member 13c against load by the counter member 50.

That part of the hook member 13c which is located between the curved inner surface 220 and the connecting area of the belt end 20 has two sections 36, 37 which are arranged at an angle with regard to each other and which in the longitudinal direction of this part are located adjacent to each other. These sections form with that side on which the rearwardly curved hook part 100 is located an obtuse angle. It is also possible, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to design the part 36, 37 of the hook member 13c so that it is curved. In this way, the hook member 13c forms a bending spring which can be stretched by subjecting the same to pull and which assures a compensation for expansion at extreme pull stresses and in this way in a simple manner assures a uniform pressure upon the locking member 13c. Between the approximately evenly long sections 36, 37 there is provided a protrusion 40 which protrudes to that side on which the rearwardly curved hook part 100 is located, said protrusion 40 being formed by a bead bent out of the hook member 130. Between the two protrusions 40 there is located a portion of the section 38 of the locking member l3c which is provided between the merging area and the connecting plate 140 so that the danger that the locking member 13'c is accidentally actuated, for instance, by hand is rather remote.

The section 38 of the locking member 13'c has a section 39 which is located approximately in the center, namely, within the area of the protrusions 40 and which is convexely curved toward the side where the rearwardly curved hook part 10c is located. The section 39 gradually merges with adjacent approximately rectilinearly sections so that at the section 38 of the locking member l3'c, bends or buckling will be avoided and the locking member will be able to absorb high loads. The locking member 13'c is, similar to the end 2c of the belt 1c connected by a rivet 230 to the hook member 130. Inasmuch as the rearwardly curved hook part 100 is formed not by bending back by approximately 180 but by being bent out of the oppositely located section 36 of the hook member 130, the extension 280 may be formed directly by the pertaining end of the plate from which the hook member 13's is made. Connected to the extension 28c by means of a rivet 3% is a handle or the like 290 which may be formed by a plate or a piece of leather.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawing, but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space, and a grip secured in area away from free ending of the belt and with which the swinging movement is carried out with pulling on said grip in only a single-handed operation.

2. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, which in cludes holding means connected to that portion of said closure member in the region of said hook-shaped element which faces toward the opening of said first angle.

3. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, in which that portion of said closing element which together with said hook-shaped element defines said first angle extends at least approximately to that wall portion of said closure member which faces toward the apex of said first angle.

4. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, in which that portion of said closing element which together with said hook-shaped element defines said first angle extends beyond that wall portion of said closure member which faces toward the apex of said first angle.

5. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, in which one of said elements which together define said first angle extends through the other element while together with each other defining said first angle.

6. A ski catching belt according to claim 5, in which that portion of said hook-shaped element which together with said closing element defines said first angle is provided with a slot and in which that portion of said closing element which forms a part of said first angle extends through said slot.

7. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, which includes holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space.

8. A ski catching belt according to claim 7, in which said holding means for gripping is provided on said closing element.

9. A ski catching belt according to claim 7 in which said holding means for gripping is provided at a free end of said closing element.

10. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, which includes holding means for gripping provided approximately in longitudinal direction of said closing element.

11. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end'portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, and eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa, one of said elements which together define said first angle extending through the other element while together with each other defining said first angle, said closing element in the region of said first angle being provided with a slot, and said hook-shaped element extending through said slot.

12. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said hook-shaped element and said closing element are made of a single integral piece which is provided with a loop intermediate said hook-shaped element and said closing element.

13. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which the outer free end of said hook-shaped element and the inner free end of said closing element each forms an obtuse angle, and in which those apex areas of these obtuse angles which face each other normally firmly engage each other.

14. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which the ends of said hook-shaped element and of said closing element are located substantially along a common plane.

15. A ski catching belt according to claim 14, in which the free end portions of said hook-shaped element and the closing element which respectively form part of said two acute angles form together with the respective adjacent part of the pertaining element an obtuse angle.

16. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said closing element is at least partially curved.

17. A ski catching belt according to claim 16, in which said closure member is curved concavely outwardly between its area of connection with said hookshaped element and said second angle and gradually merges with said connecting area.

18. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said hook-shaped element is curved at least partially about an axis extending transverse to the direction of the pull to be exerted upon said hookshaped member.

19. A ski catching belt according to claim 18, in which said hook-shaped element includes a rearwardly curved hook end, and in which said hook-shaped element is concavely curved between its connecting area with the belt and said first mentioned angle toward that side where the rearwardly curved hook end is located.

29. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said hook-shaped element is provided with a slot, and in which that portion of said closing element which is located between its connecting area with the belt and said second angle is located at least partially within said slot.

21. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said second acute angle is larger than said first acute angle.

22. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said belt is formed by a braided hose belt which is pressed flat and has its ends folded over with each folded over end connected to the adjacent belt portion.

23. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, which includes buckle means for adjusting the holding loop of said belt.

24. A ski catching belt according to claim 23, in which said buckle means is of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and polyethylene.

25. A ski catching belt according to claim 23, in which said buckle means forms a flat substantially rectangular member with two transverse slots each having a width slightly in excess of the double thickness of the belt.

26. A ski catching belt according to claim 25, in which said slots are separated by a web having a width in excess of the width of the slots.

27. A ski catching belt according to claim 23, in which said buckle means has at least one of its major surfaces provided with rib means extending in the longitudinal direction of said buckle means.

28. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said eye means is formed by a ring member.

29. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, and eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa, said hook-shaped element being provided with a slot and at both sides of said slot being provided with protrusion means directed toward the inside of said hook-shaped element, said protrusion means being formed by bead means.

30. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, and eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa, the hook proper of said hook-shaped element being formed by a first leg provided with a cutout and a second leg corresponding in size to said cutout and stamped and bent out from said first leg.

31. A ski catching belt according to claim 30, in which the inner surface of said second leg is concavely curved.

32. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means that lie at an incline to longitudinal direction of said closing element and particularly projecting over the side of said hook-shaped element.

33. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, and an essentially form-stiff part of said closing element to which said holding means for gripping is secured, said form-stiff part projecting over the outer side of said closing element.

34. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, said holding means for gripping being provided on said hook-shaped element.

35. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first acute angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, said holding means for gripping being provided on said closing element, said closing element projecting over the outer side of said hook-shaped element for formation of a connection with said holding means for gripping.

36. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hookshaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, said holding means for gripping consisting of flexible work material such as leather and the like. 

1. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respecTively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space, and a grip secured in area away from free ending of the belt and with which the swinging movement is carried out with pulling on said grip in only a single-handed operation.
 2. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, which includes holding means connected to that portion of said closure member in the region of said hook-shaped element which faces toward the opening of said first angle.
 3. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, in which that portion of said closing element which together with said hook-shaped element defines said first angle extends at least approximately to that wall portion of said closure member which faces toward the apex of said first angle.
 4. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, in which that portion of said closing element which together with said hook-shaped element defines said first angle extends beyond that wall portion of said closure member which faces toward the apex of said first angle.
 5. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, in which one of said elements which together define said first angle extends through the other element while together with each other defining said first angle.
 6. A ski catching belt according to claim 5, in which that portion of said hook-shaped element which together with said closing element defines said first angle is provided with a slot and in which that portion of said closing element which forms a part of said first angle extends through said slot.
 7. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, which includes holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space.
 8. A ski catching belt according to claim 7, in which said holding means for gripping is provided on said closing element.
 9. A ski catching belt according to claim 7 in which said holding means for gripping is provided at a free end of said closing element.
 10. A ski catching belt according to claim 1, which includes holding means for gripping provided approximately in longitudinal direction of said closing element.
 11. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, and eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa, one of said elements which together define said first angle extending through the other element while together with each other defining said first angle, said closing element in the region of said first angle being provided with a sloT, and said hook-shaped element extending through said slot.
 12. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said hook-shaped element and said closing element are made of a single integral piece which is provided with a loop intermediate said hook-shaped element and said closing element.
 13. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which the outer free end of said hook-shaped element and the inner free end of said closing element each forms an obtuse angle, and in which those apex areas of these obtuse angles which face each other normally firmly engage each other.
 14. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which the ends of said hook-shaped element and of said closing element are located substantially along a common plane.
 15. A ski catching belt according to claim 14, in which the free end portions of said hook-shaped element and the closing element which respectively form part of said two acute angles form together with the respective adjacent part of the pertaining element an obtuse angle.
 16. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said closing element is at least partially curved.
 17. A ski catching belt according to claim 16, in which said closure member is curved concavely outwardly between its area of connection with said hook-shaped element and said second angle and gradually merges with said connecting area.
 18. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said hook-shaped element is curved at least partially about an axis extending transverse to the direction of the pull to be exerted upon said hook-shaped member.
 19. A ski catching belt according to claim 18, in which said hook-shaped element includes a rearwardly curved hook end, and in which said hook-shaped element is concavely curved between its connecting area with the belt and said first mentioned angle toward that side where the rearwardly curved hook end is located.
 20. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said hook-shaped element is provided with a slot, and in which that portion of said closing element which is located between its connecting area with the belt and said second angle is located at least partially within said slot.
 21. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said second acute angle is larger than said first acute angle.
 22. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said belt is formed by a braided hose belt which is pressed flat and has its ends folded over with each folded over end connected to the adjacent belt portion.
 23. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, which includes buckle means for adjusting the holding loop of said belt.
 24. A ski catching belt according to claim 23, in which said buckle means is of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and polyethylene.
 25. A ski catching belt according to claim 23, in which said buckle means forms a flat substantially rectangular member with two transverse slots each having a width slightly in excess of the double thickness of the belt.
 26. A ski catching belt according to claim 25, in which said slots are separated by a web having a width in excess of the width of the slots.
 27. A ski catching belt according to claim 23, in which said buckle means has at least one of its major surfaces provided with rib means extending in the longitudinal direction of said buckle means.
 28. A ski catching belt according to claim 11, in which said eye means is formed by a ring member.
 29. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said cloSing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, and eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa, said hook-shaped element being provided with a slot and at both sides of said slot being provided with protrusion means directed toward the inside of said hook-shaped element, said protrusion means being formed by bead means.
 30. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, and eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa, the hook proper of said hook-shaped element being formed by a first leg provided with a cutout and a second leg corresponding in size to said cutout and stamped and bent out from said first leg.
 31. A ski catching belt according to claim 30, in which the inner surface of said second leg is concavely curved.
 32. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means that lie at an incline to longitudinal direction of said closing element and particularly projecting over the side of said hook-shaped element.
 33. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element anD said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, and an essentially form-stiff part of said closing element to which said holding means for gripping is secured, said form-stiff part projecting over the outer side of said closing element.
 34. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, said holding means for gripping being provided on said hook-shaped element.
 35. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first acute angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, said holding means for gripping being provided on said closing element, said closing element projecting over the outer side of said hook-shaped element for formation of a connection with said holding means for gripping.
 36. A ski catching belt which includes: a closure member connected to one end of said belt and adapted to be subjected to pull, said closure member comprising a hook-shaped element and a closing element having one end portion fixedly connected to said hook-shaped element and having a movable end portion continuously urged into engagement with and being movable toward and away from the free end portion of said hook-shaped element, said free end portion of said hook-shaped element and said movable end portion of said closing element respectively pointing in opposite directions while respectively defining with each other a first acute angle opening toward the inner surfaces of said hook-shaped element and said closing element and a second acute angle opening toward the outside of said two elements, eye means connected to the other end of said belt for cooperation with said closure member, said eye means being movable from the space defined by said first angle to the space defined by said second angle and vice versa for selectively receiving and releasing said closing element with respect to said hook-shaped element during swinging movement of said closing element about an axis approximately parallel to that of receiving space with a holding grip carried out with only a single-handed operation, and holding means for gripping provided at the pertaining end of the belt at a side located across from the receiving space, said holding means for gripping consisting of flexible work material such as leather and the like. 